AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The guys snicker as his voice goes softer when talking to her. But they don’t last. Wells drops the game controller, the color draining from his face as he rips the phone from James’ hand and jumps to his feet. “What?” he exclaims.
Without thought, I follow his lead and toss my controller down, already looking for his keys.
“What do you mean? Are you okay?” he asks. “Is Torryn okay?”
We all stare at Wells, waiting for an explanation, gesturing for him to put his phone on speaker. I find his keys, and toss them towards him, already walking out the front door.
“No, I’m coming. Don’t go in that fucking apartment, Isla.”
His panic is starting to freak me out and I debate texting Tor to make sure she’s okay.
Isla’s small, frazzled voice fills the room as she whisper-shouts. “Just wait, Tor! Wells is coming.”
“My fucking cat is in there,” Torryn yells back, though she sounds fainter. My heart spasms in my chest as all four of us pile into Wells’ Jeep. Wells doesn’t worry over anything, but the fear in his face tells me we need to be there too. Even if we don’t know what’s going on.
We hear Isla yell for Torryn one more time before soft cries and sounds I can’t place fill the line.
“It’s bad,” Isla whispers. “She went in and—” a muffled cry cuts off her words.
I clench my fists at my side, cursing Torryn for not being more patient. Wells’ grip on the steering wheel tightens and my body hits the door with the speed he takes the turn.
“We’re coming, baby,” he promises. “Just hold on. Can you hear anyone still there?”
Isla sniffles. “Just Torryn looking for Potato. I think whoever broke in is gone.”
Beau curses in the backseat and it feels like my heart stops beating for a second.
“The whole living room is destroyed,” Isla whispers. “Probably the whole place.”
“We’ll figure it out, baby,” he tries to assure her. He slams on the brakes, parking the car at the curb and I’m already halfway out of the Jeep before the car has even fully stopped.
Not bothering to wait for the elevator, I take the stairs two at a time, rushing to the fourth floor. My heart races, running through the possibilities of what I’m about to find. The sound of Isla’s cries and pleas for Torryn not to go into the apartment echoing in my mind.
A small tendril of relief washes through me when I spot both women waiting for us in the hall. A pile of white and orange fur bundled in Torryn’s arms as she attempts to soothe Isla.
They spot us at the same moment and Isla launches herself past me and into Wells’ arms. I grab Torryn’s shoulders, holding her straight and roving my eyes over her to check for any injuries. Once I’m assured she’s unharmed, I lift my eyes to the busted door and catch a glimpse of the completely trashed inside.
“Why the fuck would you go in there, Tor?” I ask, the fear of what could have been waiting for her on the other side of the door making my voice strained.
She cuddles the kitten in her arms. “I wasn’t leaving Potato.”
I shake my head. “You’re such an idiot,” I scold without any heat. “What if someone was still here?”
She shrugs, petting Potato behind his ears. “I would have bashed their head in.”
Beau snorts behind me and I turn around to glare at him. “It’s not funny.”
He shrugs. “It’s a little funny.” His eyes focus on the door. “Not the apartment,” he clarifies. “But Tor is absolutely capable of bashing heads in and that would be fun to see.”
“Have you guys called the cops?” Wells asks, getting us back on topic. The girls shake their heads and I take a step closer to the door and peer in. The couch cushions are ripped apart and shredded, stuffing thrown all on the floor. The tv is smashed on the floor, the coffee table overturned with a leg broken off.
For as far as I can see, things are demolished or vandalized. “I don’t think we should enter until they get here.”
Torryn nods and sighs. “It’s only worse the further in you get.” She runs her fingers through Potato’s fur, holding him close to her chest as if she needs the reassurance that he’s okay.
James already has his phone pressed to his ear. “Hi, I’d like to report a break in.” He gives a brief description of the situation after telling them the address. He nods his head as he hangs up the phone. “Officers are only a minute away. They asked us not to enter the scene.”
Isla murmurs a thanks to James while Torryn just nods in acknowledgement. While Isla doesn’t shy away from showing her emotions, Torryn shuts down. A hard look in her eyes I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. The feeling of an insurmountable wall being erected not only between me and her but her and the rest of her world. Even her best friend. She shows no sign of stress or fear. Putting all her focus on Potato while Wells takes care of Isla.
